Apparatus for mounting a vibrator in a furnace

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for mounting a vibrator within the shell of an electric induction or arc furnace and radially expansible within the shell to grip opposed interior portions of the shell and thereby to transmit vibratory forces to the shell for compacting particulate refractory material in the annular space between the shell and the surrounding refractory wall of the furnace.

n Unitd States Patent 1 3,637,171 Kroeger 51 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A 5,516,271 7195(1) Taylor ..248/226 ,545,949 3 I95 FOX 4.

VKBRATOR IN A FURNACE 3,492,383 1/1970 Heimgartner ..264/30 [72] Inventor: Dietrich Kroeger, Wiesbaden, Germany FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIQNS [73] Assignee: Jean Netter I 9,252 0/1886 Great Britain ..254/13 [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1969 Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss 869,3 [2]] No 10 Attorney-Harold M. Knoth [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT 1963 m y 13 I 7 Apparatus for mounting a vibrator within the shell of an electric induction or are furnace and radially expansible within the [52] US. Cl ..248/l4, 264/30 shell to grip opposed interior portions of the shell and thereby [5 I] Int. CI ..Fl6m 13/00, to transmit vibratory forces to the shell for compacting par- Field of Search ticulate refractory material in the annular space between the 4/ 261 shell and the surrounding refractory wall ofthe furnace.

[ 56] References Cited 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,010,596 8/1935 Klaudt ..248/235 X agaamn PATENTED JANZSIQYZ HG, H

INVENTOR. DIETRICH KROGER APPARATUS IFOR MOUNTING A VIBRATOR IN A FURNACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known, to compact refractory material between a furnace wall and the shell or insert, as by ramming manually, by using pneumatic hammers etc., or by using any of several conventional types of vibrators suspended to impart hammer blows to the shell. The compaction locates the insert or the cavity formed thereby, if the ramming, compaction etc., is effective, but many difficulties occur and have not yet been overcome. In an induction furnace, the insert is melted with the charge of metal; in an arc furnace, the insert is withdrawn for further use. The main problems with prior practices lie in the use of knocking or hammering as distinguished from true vibratory forces, because the prior methods do not use a direct vibrator mounting but instead rely on springs so that the vibrator, knocker, etc., is not really an effective part of the shell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, these problems are solved and the difficulties eliminated by a novel apparatus which, essentially, rigidifies itself with the insert or shell and mounts the vibrator within the shell so that the vibratory forces are transmitted uniformly throughout the shell, thus eliminating the need for repositioning the apparatus in the shell. Further, the apparatus is so constructed that it lends itself for use with such noncylindrical inserts as ovals, etc. The apparatus includes a central part from which radiate opposing arms or members, at least one of which is outwardly movable, to engage interior portions of the shell, whereby the apparatus becomes rigidified with the shell and is thus capable of transmitting vibratory forces uniformly throughout the length and circumference of the insert and thus the apparatus need not be repositioned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a elevation, partly in section, showing the mounting apparatus; and

FIG. 2 is a section, on a reduced scale, showing the FIG. 1 apparatus in use in a furnace.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Guides ll carry jaws or members 2 for radial sliding movement and the jaws are biased inwardly by means in the form of springs 3 acting in opposition to the effects of an upright spindie or screw 4 which is threaded into an intermediate part 5 of the guide to rotate in a central part 6 which has an under portion adapted to carry a conventional vibrator 7, which may be of the pneumatic type. Cooperative cams or ramps 8 and 9 cause the jaws or members 2 to move outward when the screw 4 is turned in one direction and to retract or move inwardly when the screw is turned oppositely, because the springs 3 do the retracting.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus is positionable substantially centrally within an electric are or induction furnace, here having a base 10 and an outer annular refractory wall 11 about which induction winding occurs at 12 and within which is positioned the usual shell or insert, here 13. The shell is of course smaller than the wall 11 and this leaves an annular space into which conventional refractory particulate material is introduced as at 14.

Considering the apparatus and its use more in detail: the central part 6 is located substantially coaxially within the insert l3, assuming that the shell or insert is cylindrical, which is customary but which need not limit the scope of the invention. Thus the screw 4 is on an upright axis. In such an assumed symmetrical situation, the central part extends radially as respects such axis so that the cams or ramps 9 are formed on outer portions thereof, but here it will be seen that instead of two jaws or members 2, there may be but one that is movable if the second or other jaw is engageable with an opposing wall portion of the shell l3. Also, it will be clear that a multiplicity of jaws could be used, such as two, three, four etc., so long as the radially expansible means-including the screw 4 and the cams 8,9-causes the apparatus to become rigid with the shell 13.

The guides 1 may be regarded as part of the force-exerting means, because they are integral with the portion that has the internal thread 5. The spindle or screw 4 is threaded into the portion 5 and its unthreaded lower part isjournaled in the part 6 and has a head accommodated by the under portion of the part 6 on which the vibrator 7 is mounted. If the structure is considered broadly, one jaw 2 is a first movable member and the opposed jaw is a second member engageable between the central part 6 and the proximate shell wall portion. When considered as a symmetrical apparatus, both jaws or members 2 are guided as duplicates, and this is true when three, four etc., jaws are used.

In use, the apparatus, being of considerable weight, may be lowered into the shell by any conventional means and is preferably located intermediate the upper and lower ends of the shell 13, the top of which is of course open and the upper end of the screw 4 is accessible through this open top. Where the insert is of such large diameter as to exceed the extent of the outer, wall-engaging portions of the jaws or members 2, additions 15 may be used to close the gap. With the apparatus located as illustrated, the vibratory forces have a reach of effective area substantially throughout the height of the shell 13, as shown by the dimension 16. Because of this feature, the apparatus need not be repositioned and the forces are uniform to assure a satisfactory compaction of the: mass or material M. Because the expansive forces exerted by the apparatus on the shell rigidify the apparatus with the shell, it is assured that the forces from the vibrator 7 are appropriately conducted to the shell.

The apparatus may be inexpensively constructed. It is easy to operate, is simple and has a long life. There are relatively few moving parts and the design is such that more than adequate clamping or expansive forces may be manually accomplished, but it is obvious that power-operated refinements may be resorted to if desired.

Iclaim:

ll. Apparatus for mounting a vibrator within the upright annular-walled shell of an electric are or induction furnace for compacting particulate refractory material in the annular space between the shell and the surrounding refractory wall, comprising a central part positionable substantially centrally within the shell and including a portion adapted to carry a vibrator, and radially expansible means carried by the central part and operative to exert radially outwardly opposed forces against interior wall portions of the shell so as to rigidify the apparatus with the shell and to transmit vibratory forces to the shell, said central part including an outer portion in the form of a cam inclined to the lengthwise extent of the shell, and the radially expansible means including a first member having an inner portion riding the cam and an outer portion engageable with a proximate portion of the shell wall and at least a second member engageable between the central part and the shell wall in opposed relation to the first member, biasing means operative between the central part and the first member for biasing said first member inwardly and away from the shell wall portion, and force-exerting means acting between the central part and the first member in opposition to the biasing means for exerting a radially outward force on the first member to cause the radially expansible means to positively grip the opposed wall portions of the shell.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the force-exerting means has a radial guide and the first member is radially slidably carried in said guide.

3. The invention defined in claim I in which the radially expansible means includes the first member and at least a similarly constructed and mounted second member, and the force-exerting means is operative simultaneously on both members, and second biasing means is operative on the second member to bias said second member inwardly.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, in which the force-exerting means has a pair of radially extending guides and the first and second members are respectively carried by the guides for radial sliding.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the central part rotatably carries an upright screw having a top end accessible through the open upper end of the shell, the force-exerting means includes said screw and an element threaded thereon and engaging the first member so that rotation of the screw causes the first member to ride the cam in said radially outward direction.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 in which said element is spaced above the central part and is in the form of a guide, and the first member has a radial portion slidably carried in the guide and the outer portion of said first member depends from said radial portion.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 in which said first member outer portion has an inner ramp shaped to conform to the cam.

8. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the vibratorcarrying portion of the central part is an under portion to carry the vibrator below said part, said under portion is hollow and accommodates part of the force-exerting means.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 in which the force-exerting means includes an upright screw rotatable in the central part and having a lower head comprising the aforesaid part accommodated by said hollow under portion.

10. Apparatus for mounting a vibrator within the upright annular-walled shell of an electric are or induction furnace for compacting particulate refractory material in the annular space between the shell and the surrounding refractory wall, comprising a central part positionable substantially centrally within the shell and including a portion adapted to carry a vibrator, and radially expansible means carried by the central part and operative to exert radially outwardly opposed forces against interior wall portions of the shell so as to rigidify the apparatus with the shell and to transmit vibratory forces to the shell, said central part including an outer portion in the form of a cam inclined to the lengthwise extent of the shell, and the radially expansible means including a first member having an inner portion riding the cam and an outer portion engageable with a proximate portion of the shell well and at least a second member engageable between the central part and the shell wall in opposed relation to the first member, means mounting the inner portion on the central part for relative back and forth movement, and force-exerting means acting between the central part and the first member in one direction to exert a radially outward force on the first member to cause the radially expansible means to positively grip the opposed wall portions of the shell and in the opposite direction to enable the radially expansible means to release its grip on the opposed wall portions of the shell. 

1. Apparatus for mounting a vibrator within the upright annularwalled shell of an electric arc or induction furnace for compacting particulate refractory material in the annular space between the shell and the surrounding refractory wall, comprising a central part positionable substantially centrally within the shell and including a portion adapted to carry a vibrator, and radially expansible means carried by the central part and operative to exert radially outwardly opposed forces against interior wall portions of the shell so as to rigidify the apparatus with the shell and to transmit vibratory forces to the shell, said central part including an outer portion in the form of a cam inclined to the lengthwise extent of the shell, and the radially expansible means including a first member having an inner portion riding the cam and an outer portion engageable with a proximate portion of the shell wall and at least a second member engageable between the central part and the shell wall in opposed relation to the first member, biasing means operative between the central part and the first member for biasing said first member inwardly and away from the shell wall portion, and force-exerting means acting between the central part and the first member in opposition to the biasing means for exerting a radially outward force on the first member to cause the radially expansible means to positively grip the opposed wall portions of the shell.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the force-exerting means has a radial guide and the first member is radially slidably carried in said guide.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1 in which the radially expansible means includes the first member and at least a similarly constructed and mounted second member, and the force-exerting means is operative simultaneously on both members, and second biasing means is operative on the second member to bias said second member inwardly.
 4. The invention defined in claim 3, in which the force-exerting means has a pair of radially extending guides and the first and second members are respectively carried by the guides for radial sliding.
 5. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the central part rotatably carries an upright screw having a top end accessible through the open upper end of the shell, the force-exerting means includes said screw and an element threaded thereon and engaging the first member so that rotation of the screw causes the first member to ride the cam in said radially outward direction.
 6. The invention defined in claim 5 in which said element is spaced above the central part and is in the form of a guide, and the first member has a radial portion slidably carried in the guide and the outer portion of said first member depends from said radial portion.
 7. The invention defined in claim 6 in which said first member outer portion has an inner ramp shaped to conform to the cam.
 8. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the vibrator-carrying portion of the central part is an under portion to carry the vibrator below said part, said under portion is hollow and accommodates part of the force-exerting means.
 9. The invention defined in claim 8 in which the force-exerting means includes an upright screw rotatable in the central part and having a lower head comprising the aforesaid part accommodated by said hollow under portion.
 10. Apparatus for mounting a vibrator within the upright annular-walled shell of an electric arc or induction furnace for compacting particulate refractory material in the annular space between the shell and the surrounding refractory wall, comprising a central part positionable substantially centrally within the shell and including a portion adapted to carry a vibrator, and radially expansible means carried by the central part and operative to exert radially outwardly opposed forces against interior wall portions of the shell so as to rigidify the apparatus with the shell and to transmit vibratory forces to the shell, said central part including an outer portion in the form of a cam inclined to the lengthwise extent of the shell, and the radially expansible means including a first member having an inner portion riding the cam and an outer portion engageable with a proximate portion of the shell well and at least a second member engageable between the central part and the shell wall in opposed relation to the first member, means mounting the inner portion on the central part for relative back and forth movement, and force-exerting means acting between the central part and the first member in one direction to exert a radially outward force on the first member to cause the radially expansible means to positively grip the opposed wall portions of the shell and in the opposite direction to enable the radially expansible means to release its grip on the opposed wall portions of the shell. 